The new tenure-track faculty members represent the best and brightest graduates from prestigious institutions of higher learning across the nation. Among them are hires who hold doctorates from Brown University, Princeton University, Vanderbilt University, Pennsylvania State University, Columbia University, Harvard University and Cornell University.

Of the 74 tenure-track hires, 29 are minority females, representing 39.2 percent of the new appointments. Another record for this academic year: the largest number of female hires (48) and the highest percentage of female appointments (64.9 percent).

California State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed traces the record to SF State President Robert Corrigan, describing him as "a national role model in the hiring of a diverse faculty."

Under President Corrigan's leadership during the past 17 years, the University has continued to promote inclusion and access across campus. Of the 814 tenure-track faculty hired at SF State from fall 1989 through fall 2006, 427 or 52.5 percent have been female and 354 or 43.5 percent have been minority.

"President Corrigan has always had an extremely strong commitment to increasing faculty diversity," said Marilyn Verhey, dean of faculty affairs and professional development. "That commitment is shared across campus by our deans and faculty, who continue to reach out to underrepresented groups to recruit new colleagues."

SF State is consistently recognized by national surveys such as U.S. News and World Report for being in the top tier of the nation's most diverse campuses. The University is ranked 13th nationwide in awarding undergraduate degrees to minorities, according to a survey published in the June 1 issue of Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine.

-- Adrianne Bee